Here's a look at that buckwheat cake loaded with fresh fruit. The other 2 are of our "mountain mom" Helen and her brother Joe. This is the store building in downtown Galax,Va. where Flossie's is located.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday
Brrr it was a bit nippy this AM as temps were down in the 50's with a brisk wind. Nancy actually wore a sweat shirt when we walked around 11 0'clock. I was awake early but decided since the windows were closed and we couldn't hear those happy singing birds I would try to sleep in and did manage until nearly 7. After a cup of hot green tea, my quiet time and a leftover buckwheat cake layered with a banana, strawberry and a blueberry for breakfast I headed outside to check on the gardens. I only found one live slug as I had really soaked the buggers last night with Malathion or maybe it was just too nippy for them to be out and about.
I gave the screen doors their second and final coat of green paint and with the dry air they were cured in no time. I next decided I needed to stake my tomato plants and cucumber's as the wind was blowing so hard I was afraid they would break off. The sugar peas I planted on Thursday are breaking ground and hopefully I have the slugs under control enough to prevent them from eating these new shoots. We had a great hike and stopped off to visit with Norm to see how the garden I rototillered and laid off in rows for him was doing. The beans and corn were up several inches as well as the cucumbers and squash.
After our hike I had a quick lunch of leftover 'taters and broccoli. I knew we were eating out in the afternoon so I stayed lite, simple and meatless. Speaking of supper this evening we(Helen and Joe as well) tried a new home cooking place in Galax called Flossie's. It was exceptionally tasty and great portions. Nancy and I both had roast turkey, cornbread stuffing, smashed 'taters(the real kind) and gravy with a garden salad and roll. Very tasty and I had to help Nancy finish hers. We were on our way home after visiting the Farmers Market in Hillsville where the sweet 'taters were 10 cents a pound. We've eaten them twice since we've been here and they are excellent plus they last forever in the basement so I bought 5 pounds of them. We next stopped at Lowes and made some purchases before heading over to Flossie's to eat. By the way this building where the restaurant's located is over a 100 years old and of course it has been refurbished, but still unique.
Well when we got home the temps had dropped down into the 60's so that made for good hiking conditions and we headed out to the top. We ran into Mike and Nancy on top who are up from Winston for a couple days and chatted with them before heading on back. I put out so mole bait as these guys tunnel underground leaving high ridges in your grass thus causing the lawn mower to chop away the grass when you mow. Well not much else is going on, LATER
I gave the screen doors their second and final coat of green paint and with the dry air they were cured in no time. I next decided I needed to stake my tomato plants and cucumber's as the wind was blowing so hard I was afraid they would break off. The sugar peas I planted on Thursday are breaking ground and hopefully I have the slugs under control enough to prevent them from eating these new shoots. We had a great hike and stopped off to visit with Norm to see how the garden I rototillered and laid off in rows for him was doing. The beans and corn were up several inches as well as the cucumbers and squash.
After our hike I had a quick lunch of leftover 'taters and broccoli. I knew we were eating out in the afternoon so I stayed lite, simple and meatless. Speaking of supper this evening we(Helen and Joe as well) tried a new home cooking place in Galax called Flossie's. It was exceptionally tasty and great portions. Nancy and I both had roast turkey, cornbread stuffing, smashed 'taters(the real kind) and gravy with a garden salad and roll. Very tasty and I had to help Nancy finish hers. We were on our way home after visiting the Farmers Market in Hillsville where the sweet 'taters were 10 cents a pound. We've eaten them twice since we've been here and they are excellent plus they last forever in the basement so I bought 5 pounds of them. We next stopped at Lowes and made some purchases before heading over to Flossie's to eat. By the way this building where the restaurant's located is over a 100 years old and of course it has been refurbished, but still unique.
Well when we got home the temps had dropped down into the 60's so that made for good hiking conditions and we headed out to the top. We ran into Mike and Nancy on top who are up from Winston for a couple days and chatted with them before heading on back. I put out so mole bait as these guys tunnel underground leaving high ridges in your grass thus causing the lawn mower to chop away the grass when you mow. Well not much else is going on, LATER
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sunday
Well the day started with actually trying to sleep in for a change but the dad gum birds were so happy and loud it made for a difficult time to sleep, I know they started singing before 5 AM, so whats with these birds? I finally rolled out a little after 7 o'clock and did my usual cup of hot green tea with a handful of vitamins and supplements before starting my quiet time. Afterwards I checked for e-mails and Face Book and did the news things on the Internet, by this time Nancy was ready to take over on the lap top so I heated up a leftover pancake and a piece of fried ham for breakfast, Yumm nothing like leftovers. I then took off outside to check for slug damage in the gardens and found a few of the slimy cretins on the beans but mostly on the flowers, even after I sprayed yesterday with Malathion, oh well!!!I need to open up the wet bar again in the slug motel.
We headed out to Cornerstone for worship around 9:20 and got to once again hug lots of necks and shake many hands but mostly got the opportunity to worship GOD corporately(with a lot of like minded folks). After leaving Cornerstone we stopped off at the grocery and picked up a few items and even there we ran into lots of familiar faces. After a lunch of a fresh salad we just chilled for awhile as the wind was really blowing so we decided not to take a chance on hiking with the heavy rain clouds in the area. The sun was in and out so I managed to give the screen doors a second coat of paint, water the plants by hand and fixed a lawn chair while waiting to see if it would be hiking weather.
Well we heard from both Bobby and Amy as we sat on the porch reading. It was quite comfortable with the strong winds and intermittent sunshine. We decided to finish the smoked ribs along with some boiled new potato's and fresh broccoli for supper. The rain began to fall as we ate and the skies really darkened, so there is the chance we won't get a hike in today unless things drastically change between now and dark. Well tomorrow we are heading Galax to run a few errands for us, Joe and Helen then eat supper out at a restaurant they just heard about recently. Should be a fun filled day as we always have a good time together. LATER
We headed out to Cornerstone for worship around 9:20 and got to once again hug lots of necks and shake many hands but mostly got the opportunity to worship GOD corporately(with a lot of like minded folks). After leaving Cornerstone we stopped off at the grocery and picked up a few items and even there we ran into lots of familiar faces. After a lunch of a fresh salad we just chilled for awhile as the wind was really blowing so we decided not to take a chance on hiking with the heavy rain clouds in the area. The sun was in and out so I managed to give the screen doors a second coat of paint, water the plants by hand and fixed a lawn chair while waiting to see if it would be hiking weather.
Well we heard from both Bobby and Amy as we sat on the porch reading. It was quite comfortable with the strong winds and intermittent sunshine. We decided to finish the smoked ribs along with some boiled new potato's and fresh broccoli for supper. The rain began to fall as we ate and the skies really darkened, so there is the chance we won't get a hike in today unless things drastically change between now and dark. Well tomorrow we are heading Galax to run a few errands for us, Joe and Helen then eat supper out at a restaurant they just heard about recently. Should be a fun filled day as we always have a good time together. LATER
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Saturday
Well once again I was wide awake at 6 AM and ready for the new day. After our quiet times we both decided to eat lite with oatmeal and fruit. I headed out to check on the slug damage and found several of the slimy creatures eating my beans and marigolds. After squashing several I decided it best to give them a shot of malathion. I saw several curl up on contact but found a dozen or more this evening as I made my last walk around before dark. The transplants from yesterday are doing good as long as I don't put them in the ground until they get a little bigger so I'm keeping them in the wheel barrow away from the slugs until they get a little bigger.
Nancy and I took off for our first hike of the day around 9 o'clock and was it ever invigorating as we made the back trail without stopping and only stopped one time throughout the hike until we made it back to the cabin.We then headed over to Helen's to do a few chores for her like cleaning out the gutter's of roofing nails and some small scraps on the roof as well as waterproofing her chimney with liquid silicone. We got back at noon and had a sandwich before I got involved in dismantling my old gas grill and putting new wheels on Helen's old gas grill. She's in the market for a new one some I'm refurbishing her old one as its hardly been used in the last several years plus its been kept in the garage.
After finishing with the grill I took apart the 2 screen doors I picked up from Mike and Nancy's place; sanded and painted them both with the first coat of paint. That kept me busy until 4:30 so I took a break and helped Nancy get supper ready. We heated up the leftover October beans and smoked ribs along with a salad and some canned peas, yikes those ribs were as good as the day we smoked them. After supper we watched the 142nd running of the the third leg of the Triple Crown horse race at the Belmont Stakes. It was a good race and an unknown horse with a unique name won. After the race we headed off once again for our evening hike and it was another no stopping on the back trail up to the top.
I thought sure we were going to get a rain this evening as its really humid and the temp is still near 80 as I write at 8:30 PM. Last night in Piney Creek(about 15-20 miles from us) they had a cloud burst with over 3 inches of rain in no time, yikes flooding was everywhere according to neighbor Ray who stopped by for a brief visit this afternoon as well.
Well not much else is going on except we are mellowing this evening, worship in the morning at Cornerstone. LATER
Nancy and I took off for our first hike of the day around 9 o'clock and was it ever invigorating as we made the back trail without stopping and only stopped one time throughout the hike until we made it back to the cabin.We then headed over to Helen's to do a few chores for her like cleaning out the gutter's of roofing nails and some small scraps on the roof as well as waterproofing her chimney with liquid silicone. We got back at noon and had a sandwich before I got involved in dismantling my old gas grill and putting new wheels on Helen's old gas grill. She's in the market for a new one some I'm refurbishing her old one as its hardly been used in the last several years plus its been kept in the garage.
After finishing with the grill I took apart the 2 screen doors I picked up from Mike and Nancy's place; sanded and painted them both with the first coat of paint. That kept me busy until 4:30 so I took a break and helped Nancy get supper ready. We heated up the leftover October beans and smoked ribs along with a salad and some canned peas, yikes those ribs were as good as the day we smoked them. After supper we watched the 142nd running of the the third leg of the Triple Crown horse race at the Belmont Stakes. It was a good race and an unknown horse with a unique name won. After the race we headed off once again for our evening hike and it was another no stopping on the back trail up to the top.
I thought sure we were going to get a rain this evening as its really humid and the temp is still near 80 as I write at 8:30 PM. Last night in Piney Creek(about 15-20 miles from us) they had a cloud burst with over 3 inches of rain in no time, yikes flooding was everywhere according to neighbor Ray who stopped by for a brief visit this afternoon as well.
Well not much else is going on except we are mellowing this evening, worship in the morning at Cornerstone. LATER
Friday, June 4, 2010
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Wednesday started out the usual way with our getting up at 6:30, our quiet times then a breakfast of oatmeal with peaches, banana and fresh blueberries. Afterwards I headed out to check out the damaged to both flower and veggie gardens, yikes what a slug problem we all of a sudden observed. I knew something had totally eaten a dozen or more lettuce plants, devoured 4 pepper plants, several marigolds and left hundreds of holes in the cone flowers, Shasta daisies and totally destroyed all of our periwinkles but 2. Luckily I noticed them(slugs) on the marigolds and decided to Google them and boy are they a nuisance, but I learned they are attracted to beer. So I developed or created 4 "slug motels" with a wet bar and the first night I captured 21 of the little buggers and found several more in the area who hadn't checked in yet for their final bash.
Nancy and I got ready for sister Dee , husband Mike, niece Kelly and her friend Jessica who just graduated from Carson-Newman college with a nursing degree and was commissioned a 2/LT in the US Army. I vacuumed for Nancy while she finished up the cookie baking, cleaned up the basement and of course we managed to get a hike in after putting on the ribs in the smoker. What a busy morning and we thoroughly enjoyed getting ready to share this beautiful place with family and friends and of course eat, hike, play games and dot the touristy thing with them.
They got here around 4 'ish and after getting them situated we headed out to the top of the mountain for their first hike. We did the extra hike to the very top and the girls some great pics. After hike it was going on 7'ish so we got ready to chow down on the barbecue ribs, October beans(similar to pintos), potato salad, garlic bread and toss salad. The meat fell off the hickory smoked bones and just melted in your mouth and the Sonny's barbecue sauce gave the ribs the extra flavor that we love on smoked meat. After eating and clean up we got ready for some Sequence. Kelly had to for go her loyalty to the gals as we were a guy short and she played on the eventual winning team. It was a fun evening and was nearly midnight when we quit.
Thursday morning found us up and ready to go as our internal alarm clock woke us at 6:30. Seems Jessica was unable to get to sleep until about the time we woke up due to the late night coffee so she slept through a great breakfast of buckwheat cakes, fried sugar cured ham, bacon, eggs and juice. After eating Mike and I took the golf cart up onto the top of the mountain to retrieve a couple of screen doors that one of the residences were replacing. Actually they just need some sanding and painting and are in better shape than the ones on our cabin. Thanks Mike!!!
The girls wanted to do a short day trip over to the Blue Ridge Gallery where we have had the privilege to befriend the owners Joe and Melia Edwards. They have a unique shop with lots of homemade "stuff"and are just fine folks plus she grew up on this farm that belonged to her folks. After leaving there(I caught a quick nap on the front porch in a rocking chair while the gals shopped) we took a couple back roads and headed to another gallery near High Meadows golf course. Dee found a unique bird feeder/bath she wanted for their home in Woodstock, Va. We then headed on back to the cabin to find Jessica awake and studying for her state boards for licensing in the nursing profession. We had a variety of lunch meats, cheeses, pickles and chips for a late lunch before we got ready to head out again for another hike. After the hike we came back and played checkers(Jessica was the champ) did some computer updating and just visited until it was time to start supper. We had 1/2 runner beans, baked sweet potato's, toss salad and marinated chicken breasts. It was after 8 before we ate supper and after clean up we played chicken foot domino's and then Phase 10. It was 12:30 before we quit and got ready for bed.
Friday morning found us up around 6:30 once again as Dee took their Jack Russell terrier, Bonnie out for her morning constitution. Bonnie is typical for her breed and is a constant ball of action and is such a smart pup. We just sat around and visited eating a lite breakfast and eventually they all got ready to head out. Mike has to leave for Washington State on Monday for 2 months with his ROTC cadets. We ate a quick sandwich as lunchtime approached then packed the car and took a few pictures and chased Bonnie around in the yard to wear her out for the trip back to Virginia. We had a great visit; ate too much, laughed a lot, played lots of different games and got in some great hikes. The weather co-operated as it was very pleasant with lots of sunshine. It sure was quiet around here after they left.
Well we got busy with 2 loads of laundry, vacuuming and I transplanted lettuce, zinnias and watercress before heading off on our first of 2 hikes for the day. The back trail seemed a little steeper today especially for Nancy as she needed a couple rest stops but seemed much stronger on the second hike after supper. Well we had a full day and we were just amazed at how quickly the time went with their visit. Thanks guys for all the goodies and the fun time we had together.
We spoke with both Bobby and Amy and got to hear our grand daughter, Annsley and then grand son Samuel later on the phone. We got a visit from neighbor George Redmon later in the afternoon. Well its time to hit the shower as its been a full past 3 days, LATER.
Nancy and I got ready for sister Dee , husband Mike, niece Kelly and her friend Jessica who just graduated from Carson-Newman college with a nursing degree and was commissioned a 2/LT in the US Army. I vacuumed for Nancy while she finished up the cookie baking, cleaned up the basement and of course we managed to get a hike in after putting on the ribs in the smoker. What a busy morning and we thoroughly enjoyed getting ready to share this beautiful place with family and friends and of course eat, hike, play games and dot the touristy thing with them.
They got here around 4 'ish and after getting them situated we headed out to the top of the mountain for their first hike. We did the extra hike to the very top and the girls some great pics. After hike it was going on 7'ish so we got ready to chow down on the barbecue ribs, October beans(similar to pintos), potato salad, garlic bread and toss salad. The meat fell off the hickory smoked bones and just melted in your mouth and the Sonny's barbecue sauce gave the ribs the extra flavor that we love on smoked meat. After eating and clean up we got ready for some Sequence. Kelly had to for go her loyalty to the gals as we were a guy short and she played on the eventual winning team. It was a fun evening and was nearly midnight when we quit.
Thursday morning found us up and ready to go as our internal alarm clock woke us at 6:30. Seems Jessica was unable to get to sleep until about the time we woke up due to the late night coffee so she slept through a great breakfast of buckwheat cakes, fried sugar cured ham, bacon, eggs and juice. After eating Mike and I took the golf cart up onto the top of the mountain to retrieve a couple of screen doors that one of the residences were replacing. Actually they just need some sanding and painting and are in better shape than the ones on our cabin. Thanks Mike!!!
The girls wanted to do a short day trip over to the Blue Ridge Gallery where we have had the privilege to befriend the owners Joe and Melia Edwards. They have a unique shop with lots of homemade "stuff"and are just fine folks plus she grew up on this farm that belonged to her folks. After leaving there(I caught a quick nap on the front porch in a rocking chair while the gals shopped) we took a couple back roads and headed to another gallery near High Meadows golf course. Dee found a unique bird feeder/bath she wanted for their home in Woodstock, Va. We then headed on back to the cabin to find Jessica awake and studying for her state boards for licensing in the nursing profession. We had a variety of lunch meats, cheeses, pickles and chips for a late lunch before we got ready to head out again for another hike. After the hike we came back and played checkers(Jessica was the champ) did some computer updating and just visited until it was time to start supper. We had 1/2 runner beans, baked sweet potato's, toss salad and marinated chicken breasts. It was after 8 before we ate supper and after clean up we played chicken foot domino's and then Phase 10. It was 12:30 before we quit and got ready for bed.
Friday morning found us up around 6:30 once again as Dee took their Jack Russell terrier, Bonnie out for her morning constitution. Bonnie is typical for her breed and is a constant ball of action and is such a smart pup. We just sat around and visited eating a lite breakfast and eventually they all got ready to head out. Mike has to leave for Washington State on Monday for 2 months with his ROTC cadets. We ate a quick sandwich as lunchtime approached then packed the car and took a few pictures and chased Bonnie around in the yard to wear her out for the trip back to Virginia. We had a great visit; ate too much, laughed a lot, played lots of different games and got in some great hikes. The weather co-operated as it was very pleasant with lots of sunshine. It sure was quiet around here after they left.
Well we got busy with 2 loads of laundry, vacuuming and I transplanted lettuce, zinnias and watercress before heading off on our first of 2 hikes for the day. The back trail seemed a little steeper today especially for Nancy as she needed a couple rest stops but seemed much stronger on the second hike after supper. Well we had a full day and we were just amazed at how quickly the time went with their visit. Thanks guys for all the goodies and the fun time we had together.
We spoke with both Bobby and Amy and got to hear our grand daughter, Annsley and then grand son Samuel later on the phone. We got a visit from neighbor George Redmon later in the afternoon. Well its time to hit the shower as its been a full past 3 days, LATER.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Tuesday June 1st
Wow what a busy day that started at 6:30 when I jumped out of the sack, did my quiet time and had a piece of pound cake for breakfast, I know it wasn't the best choice but I just couldn't let it go to waste, especially since Joe made it. After eating I headed outside to check on my "slug motel with the wet bar" and low and behold out of 3 traps I had a total 21 DRT's(dead right there) slugs and how happy that made me until after looking closely at my marigolds I picked off another dozen and of course smashed them and tonight after getting back from our evening hike I found another 50 or so on Nancy's flowers out front in the various beds. We must have an infestation, anyhow I mixed up a strong batch of malathion and sprayed all of the beds just before dark and I must have seen another 50 plus on all kinds of plants. Oh well the beer trap seemed like a good first idea but there are just too many.
We had 3 different rain showers today with a really nice evening shower just before supper. I managed in between the showers to get the yards mowed and edged as we are having our first guests of the summer to arrive in the afternoon, so I want to have time to play while they are here. The UPS guy brought me a part for my fan motor on the dehumidifier this afternoon so I got it fixed and its once again taking the moisture out of the basement and getting rid of the musty smell.
We managed to get in 2 hikes today and both times we made the steep pull through our woods to the top without stopping. We really are starting to feel the difference with these hikes and Nancy actually had a little extra looseness in her jeans. Our lunch was leftover brats and for supper we had leftover squash casserole, fried ham, collard greens and a salad with a scoop of potato salad on the top. Nancy made a big bowl it for company as well chocolate chip cookies, getting ready to put those couple pounds back on we lost this last week, Oh well should be fun and of course we will hike, play games and maybe I will get the chance to introduce them to pickle ball. Well better go as I just came it at 9:15 and it wasn't quite pitch black. LATER
We had 3 different rain showers today with a really nice evening shower just before supper. I managed in between the showers to get the yards mowed and edged as we are having our first guests of the summer to arrive in the afternoon, so I want to have time to play while they are here. The UPS guy brought me a part for my fan motor on the dehumidifier this afternoon so I got it fixed and its once again taking the moisture out of the basement and getting rid of the musty smell.
We managed to get in 2 hikes today and both times we made the steep pull through our woods to the top without stopping. We really are starting to feel the difference with these hikes and Nancy actually had a little extra looseness in her jeans. Our lunch was leftover brats and for supper we had leftover squash casserole, fried ham, collard greens and a salad with a scoop of potato salad on the top. Nancy made a big bowl it for company as well chocolate chip cookies, getting ready to put those couple pounds back on we lost this last week, Oh well should be fun and of course we will hike, play games and maybe I will get the chance to introduce them to pickle ball. Well better go as I just came it at 9:15 and it wasn't quite pitch black. LATER
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